Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1987 Jeep Cherokee. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗BRAKES:POWER ASSIST:PRIMARY:BOOSTER
- Summary
- BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVOIR CANISTERS MAY DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO BUMPER IMPACT.
- Consequence
- THIS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND ANINCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE.
- Remedy
- REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CANNISTERS WITH NEW TYPE CANNISTERS; ALSO, INSTALL A RESTRICTION ORIFICE TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT VACUUM IN EVENT CANNISTER LEAKAGE OCCURS.
FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES:ACCELERATOR:RIGID
- Summary
- VEHICLE MAY CONTAIN AN OUT OF TOLERANCE THROTTLE BODY.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD PREVENT THE ACCELERATOR FROM RETURNING TOIDLE WHEN RELEASED.
- Remedy
- REPLACE SUSPECT THROTTLE BODIES.
EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL
- Summary
- CRUISE CONTROL MODULE COULD HAVE INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION.
- Consequence
- INCONSISTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION COULD RESULT INLOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE MODULE, AS NECESSARY.
FUEL:FUEL LINES:HOSES:NON-METALLIC
- Summary
- A STUD MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF ENGINE THAT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CHAFING OF THE FUEL HOSE COULD OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
- Remedy
- REMOVE STUD AND REPLACE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE AND LINE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE.
STEERING:LINKAGES:OTHER
- Summary
- STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS REMAINED IN ACID ETCHING BATH TOO LONG. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COUPLERS COULD BE OUT OF TOLERANCE RESULTING IN STEERING WHEEL MISALIGNMENT WITH EVENTUAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
- Remedy
- REPLACE OUT OF TOLERANCE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (57)
57 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 57 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 33.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 14% |
| Steering | 7 | 12.3% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 8.8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 7% |
| Power train | 4 | 7% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 7% |
| Structure | 3 | 5.3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 3.5% |
How 1987 compares with other Cherokee years
Best and worst Cherokee years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 | 7 | 3 |
| 1985 | 17 | 3 |
| 1986 | 21 | 4 |
| 1987 | 57 | 5 |
| 1988 | 97 | 0 |
| 1989 | 191 | 3 |
| 1990 | 270 | 5 |
| 1991 | 233 | 5 |
| 1992 | 113 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 21 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1987 Cherokee for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1987 Jeep Cherokee FAQ
How many recalls does the 1987 Jeep Cherokee have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 88V106000 (brake), 87V035000 (vehicle speed control), 87V022000 (vehicle speed control), 86V160000 (fuel system), 86V159000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1987 Jeep Cherokee problems?
Owners filed 57 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (19), Engine and engine cooling (8), Steering (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1987 Jeep Cherokee get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual version at 19 city, 24 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1987 Cherokee compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1992 Jeep Cherokee model years at least five years old, the 1981 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (270). The 1987 drew 57. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.